Heidegger

Martin Heidegger (1889–1976) was a German philosopher whose work helped shape 20th-century existential phenomenology and ontology. Trained at the University of Freiburg and influenced by Husserl and Brentano, he became one of the central figures of continental philosophy. His most influential work, Being and Time (1927), seeks to redefine the question of Being by examining the structures of human existence, or Dasein, as it is inherently embedded in the world.

A central aim of Being and Time is to uncover how Dasein’s everyday existence reveals the meaning of Being. Key concepts include being-in-the-world, which emphasizes our practical involvement with things rather than detached contemplation; care (Sorge), which describes the fundamental way in which beings are oriented toward their world; thrownness (Geworfenheit), mood, and the anticipation of death. Heidegger also distinguishes modes of relation to equipment, notably ready-to-hand and present-at-hand, to show how meaning arises in practical engagement rather than theoretical reflection.

In his later work, Heidegger shifted toward language, history, and the question of technology. Notable writings include The Question Concerning Technology and The Origin of the Work of Art, which explore how truth unfolds within human practices and artifacts. Although he remained influential across phenomenology, existentialism, hermeneutics, and poststructuralist thought, his reputation is tempered by his involvement with the Nazi Party in the 1930s and the political consequences for his career.

Heidegger’s impact on philosophy endures in debates about ontology, phenomenology, and the nature of meaning, making him a foundational yet contested figure in modern thought.